Monteris Medical and Symphony Robotics Announce Strategic Collaboration to Launch AI-Driven Micro-Robotic Platform

Monteris Medical, the leader in laser interstitial thermal therapy (LITT) for use in the brain, and Symphony Robotics, the pioneer in AI-powered micro-robotics, announced a strategic partnership to evolve surgical precision with the use of advanced robotics for brain ablation surgery and expand the capabilities of MRI-guided neurosurgical procedures.

Born out of intellectual property from Case Western Reserve University, Symphony Robotics has developed a micro-robotic arm designed to operate within the MRI bore without an engine. This flexible system navigates complex brain structures through a five-millimetre opening, enabling non-linear laser probe trajectories and real-time MRI-guided motion planning. Powered by proprietary AI and computer vision, Symphony's technology is anticipated to bring next-level precision to laser ablation procedures, especially for multiple or irregularly shaped lesions, such as those in neurofibromatosis and glioblastoma (GBM), as well as in complex anatomical targets associated with epilepsy.

"LITT has become a powerful tool in treating brain tumours, and Symphony Robotics' technology introduces a level of control and flexibility that could significantly improve outcomes," said Dr. Ricardo J. Komotar, surgical director of the University of Miami Brain Tumor Institute in Miami. "Its robotic arm can manoeuvre within the brain in ways rigid tools are more limited – enhancing ablation coverage, biopsy accuracy and even drug delivery. This innovation could deliver a true evolution in robotics for LITT that benefits patients with the most challenging brain tumours."

This partnership intends to integrate Monteris' proven laser energy delivery system with Symphony's advanced micro-robotic guidance, enabling an even greater degree of precision in anatomically challenging regions. Symphony's technology complements Monteris' trajectory-based approach by enabling curved pathways for laser heat delivery and dynamic probe control. These capabilities may provide physicians with added flexibility in specific clinical scenarios, expanding on the strong outcomes already demonstrated by NeuroBlate technology – known for optimising patient results, including overall survival and seizure freedom.

Monteris Medical's minimally invasive NeuroBlate® System, the only LITT platform with robotic control, is widely adopted and used in leading neurosurgical centres across North America. With many thousands of procedures performed, published multi-center prospective outcomes and strong clinical validation from major professional medical organizations including the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS), the Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS), the American Association for Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery (ASSFN) and the National Comprehensive Cancer Network® (NCCN), Monteris has led the field of laser ablation for the brain to establish the technology as a standard option for brain tumors and drug-resistant epilepsy.